Story Of The building Design

New Council Offices- Story of the Design

The fire in 2008 provided the opportunity to design new Council Offices and we are now at the stage where the planning process is complete.  It has been quite a journey so far and this is how we have arrived at where we are now.

The vision and challenge was that the building be bright, clean, efficient and give customers coordinated, easy access to services provided not only by the Borough Council but a range of other public bodies such as the County Council. The Building also needed to include a modern civic suite for events and use by the Community, be environmentally sustainable, attractive, comfortable and fully accessible for staff and visitors and have high levels of natural daylight and natural ventilation. The building has to be completed to a budget and timescale in order to keep within our insurers timetable.

When initially considering the Burton Street site the view from the Church to Burton Street Bridge and the view of the offices when leaving the railway station were acknowledged as being very important.  The redevelopment of this site presented an opportunity to significantly improve these pedestrian routes and connections.

Site lines from Strategic points

Early on in the concept design stages it was felt that the ‘civic’ functions should be located nearer to Burton Street and the Bridge than to the Park. This was primarily to ensure the civic suite was visible from this approach to the town.  Also the aspirations for high levels of environmental sustainability led to a floor plan that would maximise the effectiveness of natural shade, hence a floor plan on an east-west axis.

Early 3D Drawings

This led to the earliest conceptual sketches (previously published in the Melton Mail) showing a three part building with linear offices to the west, a central foyer/reception with doors facing the railway station and town centre. 

       Early Site Plan                               3D View from Foot Bridge               Early Sketch of North Elevation

                                                               (East/South Elevation) 

We worked with the East Midlands Design Review Panel that consists of experts in the field of architecture. They suggested the building be better connected to the park, the car parking be reduced and an attractive footpath along the western boundary be created linking the railway station to the existing footpath along the east side of the park.  These suggestions were incorporated into the scheme.

Site Development Sketches

Numerous façade design and material options were tested through consultation and refined to strike the careful balance required between civic image and practical function. Consultation throughout included (amongst others) members of the ‘Sounding Board’ that we put together following a request in an earlier Melton Mail edition for volunteers to help us.

Process of Design through Consultation

Two of the Alternative Designs Considered

The result of the extensive consultation and design development is a building which the Council believes befitting of its Civic function and location, which reflects the forward thinking and progressive attitude of the Council and one that will significantly improve this long-vacant but landmark site.

Final Design from Three Vantage Points

Artist's Impression of View Towards the Church

View of the Church from the Station

Please contact us at parkside@melton.gov.uk if you would like any additional information.

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